The Founder

LYU Shunling Biography

LYU Shunling is the Founder of CereCare Wellness Center for Children. CereCare is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization opened in November, 2003. The center offers rehabilitation for pre-school aged children with cerebral palsy (CP). Upon opening, CereCare had five children, but within two years reached its full capacity of 32 children.

LYU Shunling was born in Shanghai in 1934, inflicted with CP. Because of her disability, she was incapable of taking care of herself in her youth and lived a protected, sheltered life. It was not until 1952 was she diagnosed at the age of 18, after which she was sent to Hong Kong for treatment. LYU Shunling remained in Hong Kong from 1953-1956 to undergo various treatments, with her perseverance and commitment yielding few results. It was noted however that ‘Traditional Chinese Acupressure’ showed most potential in the rehabilitation of various implications of CP.

In 1956 upon her return to Shanghai, LYU Shunling recognized the potential for rehabilitation through treatment by acupressurists in China. In seeking the guidance of renowned Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Masters, LYU Shunling began her healing process. These Masters ultimately became her teachers, and taught her healing techniques. At the age of 30, LYU Shunling was able to walk out the front door unassisted for the first time.

At this time, LYU Shunling made the decision to take control of her life. Unfortunately, due to her affliction, she was not granted admission into a university, but not to be discouraged she began her studies in Chinese and Western medicine via correspondence. LYU Shunling excelled in her oral finals, but due to her inability to write legibly was denied her diploma. Over the years, she developed her own special technique of “Acupressure Treatment” designed to empower people afflicted with CP to have some form of normalcy in their lives.

LYU Shunling has exceptional empathy and compassion for the handicapped. With the support of her parents, she started working with handicapped people in 1980 in association with the Red Cross and starting her own center for handicapped people in 1985. Her direction changed shortly thereafter, as she read an article about a father abandoning his family after learning that his wife gave birth to a CP baby- it was at this time she decided to concentrate on children with CP. Using money left to her by her parents, she started a clinic in 1992. She remodeled the garage and built an annex in the garden and started a free clinic and physiotherapy center.

In 2003, to further her commitment to children with CP, LYU Shunling sold the house left to her by her parents, brother and sisters and founded CereCare. Together with sister Sung Mai Iris Lieu, LYU Shunling has a strong commitment and dedication to the growth and development of CereCare. Their goal is to increase the scope of services and facilities to initially accommodate 150 CP children currently on waitlist. Her ultimate vision is to build a barrier-free school that will accept all mentally sound, but physically challenged children, with a full comprehensive rehabilitation facility within the schools confines.

Over the years, she has treated dozens of children with astounding results. She has been honored numerous times by the city of Shanghai and received frequent press coverage.

Awards for Lyu Shun Ling